PROJECT PROMISE ACTION & IMPACT COMMITTEE MEETING

MINUTES OF February 26, 2009

Attendees: Lee Allinger, AASD; Andrew Konkel, CAP Services; Gayle Hardt, United Way; Carrie Hankes, Affinity Health; Julie Coenen, LEAVEN; Sandi Moore, FVTC.

1. Welcome/Introductions: We welcomed Lee as a new member.

2. Minutes: previously approved via email.

3. Project Promise Poverty Coalition (PPPC) News: Andrew reported that the PPPC expenses exceeded expectations for the January 16, 2009, report to the community event at the PAC & the Executive Board is looking for funding to cover that cost. There will be a full membership meeting 3/11 at 7:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church fellowship hall, Appleton. Andrew also reported that the Information & Analysis Committee is meeting in 4-hour blocks to tackle phases of the root cause analysis because of the intensity of the work. Also, on behalf of the Awareness & Education Committee, he reported that 7 people attended the Speakers’ Bureau training and the team is now better able to field speaking requests.

4. Chair and co-chair expectations: Andrew also shared the document for outlining these roles; approved unanimously. Copy attached with minutes.

5. Subcommittee Reports:

A. Sandi reported on progress to date by the Faith & Poverty subcommittee, reminding everyone that the weeklong event is October 9-15. The committee has brainstormed tasks and divided responsibilities. Next meetings are 4:30 p.m. on March 22 and April 26 at Prince of Peace Church, all are welcome to join. Lee volunteered use of an Appleton School as a site for the media rollout and/or 1-2 of the planned poverty simulations.

B. Gayle reported that the continuum of care committee has not met in the past month. She did report that they are working on getting a chairperson confirmed, meetings scheduled, and trying to clarify timeline, intention, usage, etc. Topics they may be addressing are food, emergency, support, self-sufficiency, education, mental health, childcare, etc.; this is a lot of information to gather. Gayle asked whether it needs to be as involved as creating independent topical continuums or if a new revised 211 brochure would be helpful. Sandi praised the 211 and stated she was sorry United Way no longer provides this as it has been a valuable tool for herself, colleagues, and clients. Andrew said having a continuum to identify both services and gaps would be very helpful. The next question is maintenance of the document. Sandi said that perhaps updates could be funneled to Mary Wisnet via the FCCC Friday newsletter/email list. Andrew or Gayle will bring up this topic at the March 11 full membership meeting.

C. Volunteer and Human Resource Fair: Due to co-chairs Julia and Amanda’s absences, Andrew mentioned that their committee of 5 has met once. They are looking at an event to expand on last year’s Next Steps Expo at FVTC geared toward education. They want to recruit more volunteers – they may combine this fair with a Farmer’s Market in Appleton in late May or early June. They have moved the Legislative Lunch and Learn to the back burner for now.

D. Website: Willems Marketing has graciously been working on website in-kind, almost ready to be unveiled. Home page looks great -- will be much more user friendly. Let Andrew know if your organization wants a link to website.

E. Chain reporting: Carrie & Andrew will split up supervision of subcommittees; Andrew-faith and volunteer resource, Carrie-continuum of care, more to be arranged.

6. Seedfolks: Lee shared info on the Seedfolks Project currently underway in the Appleton Area School District (AASD). This novel (by Paul Fleischman) is the topic of an informal community-wide book read; there will be a May 10 family event and he asked that PPPC have a table there with information. Attendees at today’s meeting were urged to take a copy, read it, sign their names, and pass it on.

7. Other: Lee reported that the AASD is undertaking a new birth to 5 initiatives, and there is a likely connection between this and Project Promise. He will present (or arrange for someone else to present) information on this at the next meeting.

8. Upcoming meetings: March 26 and April 23, both at 9:15 a.m. The March 23 meeting is in one of the basement meeting rooms at Appleton Library; the site for April 23 will be decided on March 26. The team did agree to keep meetings on the 4^th Thursday morning of each month for at least the next several months.

9. Meeting adjourned